Automatic Quail chick waterer..... any ideas??

[randyandmegs]

Im raising between 500 - 1500 chicks at a time. I finally found a gallon waterer with a thin lip to keep them from drowing or getting into the water and getting chilled. I was using up to 15 quart jars a day and that was a pain so I got the gallon ones from Kuhl but now up to 500-1500 birds that is getting to be too much work each day. All my older birds are all on automatic systems ( I can upload pics if anyone wants ideas on those, cause they work great and are cheap to build) I need something for the babies that is automatic. I have heard of nipple drinkers but cant find feedback on them or really find them anywhere. There are some Satelite type drinkers that extend off of the Bell type drinkers but I dont know if they work for baby quail. I just found the quail forum on here and have posted my thoughts on several other post. Any help wuld be appreciated. If I can offer any help with Bobwhites or if anyone needs eggs or chicks let me know....
Thanks,
Randy Smith
NCEMT-Paramedic

 

[kingmt]

I would love to see pics of the auto water system. I am thinking about Bobwhites also but my state requires a permit for them.

 

[randyandmegs]

5 Gallon bucket with a float valve I got at tractor supply for less than $10. A garden hose screws right into the top of it. I think Little Giant makes it for stock tanks but it hangs and attaches to the bucket easily. So there is your water source, if you are not near a water source leave that part out and just use the five gallon bucket or go big up 35-55 gallon food grade barrel.

This is a barb (lowes and GQF sell them) that I installed in the bottom of the bucket and sealed with silicone. The tubing coming off the barb
( bought at GQF but lowes has something similar) carrys the water to the automatic "Bell" style automatic waterers that Turkey and large chicken farmers use. I got 3 on Ebay and 10 from Craigslist for around $10 each. Most all the poultry supply companies sell them for a but more. Mine were used but like new. I put 3 inline on 2 areas of my farm ( you just add a plastic "T")

This is what the completed watering system looks like. I converted an old milking barn into a 3 stall quail pen. Where the old feed trough at the back of the barn is used as my brooder. I will have to look for a picture of the brooder.

Brooder while under construction. It now has dividers and a hinged top that folds down when they get to that age where they still need a light but are able to fly out. Usually the last week under the lamp. I hang the lights from a chain and its easy to raise them every week to ge the desired temp. This is the area im needed help with an automatic waterer to go in there to water the baby quail.